It’s once again time to give a hearty Happy Birthday to the United States of America. This year the July 4 holiday falls on Monday and in Poultney a day of fun and food ends with the crash, boom, bang of fireworks.

The holiday starts off at a run with the Martin Devlin Memorial 5-kilometer Fun Run/Walk. On-site registration starts at Green Mountain College at 6:45 a.m., and the race kicks off at 8 a.m. with awards given out at 9:15 a.m.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from East Poultney and ends at Poultney Elementary School where the remainder of the day’s festivities will take place.

The parade proceeds west on East Main Street to Main Street before continuing onto College Street and ending at the Poultney Elementary School grounds, following the traditional route.

Among the parade participants will be the Catamount Bagpipes, the Adirondack Cowgirls and the Rutland Curbstone Barbershop Chorus.

The Rutland Curbstone Barbershop Chorus will perform a number of patriotic songs at the elementary school after the parade ends. The Catamount Bagpipes will perform as well.

The Adirondack Cowgirls, the Washington County, N.Y.-based equestrian drill team, will also perform acts of equestrian skills at various times during the day as well as offering horse rides.

Schedules of performances will be available the week prior to the celebration at all Poultney area businesses.

The grounds of Poultney Elementary School will transform into a fun zone with something to do for everyone following the parade. The No Strings Marionette Company will put on its unique puppet show, “Handsome and Gretel,” which should keep the smiles wide and the laughter rolling with a 2 p.m. performance.

The Adirondack Cowgirls are back with horse shows and rides, Boy Scout Troop 13 will be running the Dunking Booth and there will be plenty of games, face-painting and balloon-art all day.

The Magic shows will run from 2 to 3 p.m., and the local bluegrass band ‘Gold Town’ will welcome the fireworks crowd starting at 6 p.m.

DJ John Saltis works the pre-fireworks dance party. Grab your glow-necklaces from the Poultney High School cheerleaders and find your favorite spot on the field for the fantastic fireworks show at dusk.

Come hungry, organizers said.

Food vendors will bring a huge variety of summer carnival favorites to the celebration. Can you say fried dough? The Poultney Snowmobile Club will be cooking up Hotdogs, Hamburgers and French Fries, and the Barn Restaurant from Pawlet will be serving some melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork.

The fireworks will be launched from the Poultney Elementary School as soon as the skies get dark enough as a grand finale for the day.

Last-minute parade entries or anyone with questions can call 287-9751.

The pre-party: a weekend of events in Poultney

Poultney is planning a fun-packed weekend to celebrate this Fourth of July starting with the Poultney Public Library’s Annual Book Sale on Saturday morning.

July 2 patrons can come and pick up their summer reading at a reasonable price starting at 8 a.m.

Later, at 10 a.m., bring the kids and walk the streets of Poultney for more great deals at Poultney’s Annual Youth Flea Market, sponsored by the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce, the Poultney Downtown Revitalization Committee, the Poultney Recreation Department and the Poultney Rotary Club.

Start the evening July 2 at 6 p.m. and bring a chair down to the Young at Heart Senior Citizens Center to enjoy the “old-timey stylings” of the Adirondack Old-Time Fiddle players; refreshments will be served.

The show will be outside under a tent.

Sunday, July 3 the Green at East Poultney hosts the second Annual Strawberry Festival at 6 p.m., sponsored by the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce, followed by the start of the Town Band Concert on the Green series at 7 p.m. Strawberry shortcake will be $3 for children and $5 for adults.

The holiday starts off Monday morning July 4 at a run as the Martin Devlin Memorial 5k Fun Run/Walk takes place downtown.

On-site registration starts at Green Mountain College at 6:45 a.m., and the race kicks off at 8 a.m. with awards given out at 9:15 a.m.

Proceeds from the run go to support RAVNAH or the Rutland Area Visiting Nurses and Hospice.

Check out poultneyvt.com and visit the Fourth of July links to find a downloadable registration for the race.